Plants used for medicinal purposes:

The following plants were used for medicinal purposes by the Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en peoples:.

Plant common name (Latin name)

Brief description of use:

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) Poultices for rheumatism and sores on the surface of the skin.
Cow-parsnip (Heracleum lanatum) Roots made into a poultice for rheumatism.
Highbush cranberry (Viburnum edule) Infusions of bark and twigs used for coughing.
Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) Nut's milk was used to cure coughs and colds.
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) Decoctions of the roots and leaves were used for a variety of illnesses.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) A decoction made of this plant was gargled.
Cut-leaf anemone (Anemone multifiola) Used to kill fleas and lice, and also to treat rheumatism.
Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) A tea made of this plant was a strong diuretic.
Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) A pain killer was made of the inner bark.
Sitka mountain ash (Sorbus sitchersis) A preparation from the berries was used to treat coughs, flu and fever.
Devil's club (Opolopanax horridus) The Devil's club was considered to be the best cure for a number of illnesses.
Indian hellebore (Veratrum viride) The Indian Hellebore was used for a numerous spiritual and medicinal uses.
Common juniper (Juniperus communis) The Common Juniper was used as a fumigant, deodorizer, and cleaner.
Red paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) A decoction of the entire plant was used as a treatment for bleeding cuts and some other medical problems.
Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) Preparations of the pitch and bark were used to treat eye infections and ailments.
Black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) Juice from the berries or decoctions of the inner bark were used to treat sore eyes.
Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) Infusions from the bark were drank as an emetic or purgative.

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Revised: 08/21/98
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